Source: Richard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters
Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa has confirmed plans to eliminate around 4,000 administrative jobs by 2030, citing artificial intelligence, digitalization, and efficiency drives as central to its restructuring strategy.
The Lufthansa Group — which includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, alongside a minority stake in Italy’s ITA Airways — currently employs roughly 103,000 people worldwide. The airline emphasized that the cuts will focus on administrative roles rather than operational staff such as pilots or cabin crew.
“The Lufthansa Group is reviewing which activities will no longer be necessary in the future, for example due to duplication of work,” the company said in a statement. “In particular, the profound changes brought about by digitalization and the increased use of artificial intelligence will lead to greater efficiency in many areas and processes.”
The announcement follows similar moves in German industry, with Bosch recently revealing plans to cut 13,000 jobs, also citing AI-driven efficiencies.
Strategy Shift and Centralized Control
Alongside the job reductions, Lufthansa aims to bring its airlines under tighter central management in order to improve profitability. Eurowings, as well as the group’s logistics and maintenance units, are expected to receive greater strategic emphasis, with the latter expanding into defense-related services.
Despite enjoying strong post-pandemic profits, Lufthansa has struggled with inflation-driven strikes and rising operating costs throughout 2024.
Union Opposition
German trade union Verdi, which represents Lufthansa office staff, vowed to fight the cuts.
“These are drastic measures,” said Verdi representative Marvin Reschinsky. “German and European aviation policy bears a large share of the responsibility for this development,” he added, pointing to higher airport fees and new environmental regulations. The union has called on the federal government to provide support for the aviation sector.
